Half to edward p



(No Model.) I

M. W. STEBBINS.

. FINGER MOIST'ENER. No. 503,995. I Patented Aug. 29, 1893,;

WITNESSES I'NVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON W. STEBBINS, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A SSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO EDWARD P. LYNCH, OF SAME PLACE.

,FINGERQMOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,995, dated August 29, 1893.

Application filed March 18, 1893. Serial No. 466,627. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MILTON W. SrEBBINs, a citizen of the United States, residingat Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Finger-Moisteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a device adapted to be carried upon the hand and to be readily shifted from one finger or thumb to another and which shall be adapted for general use as a moistening device as for example to moisten the fingers in distributing letters and counting money, and as an envelope and stamp moistener. 7

With these ends in view I have devised the simple and novel device which Iwill now describe referring by numbers to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification in which- I Figure 1 is an elevation of my novelv moistener complete; Fig. 2 a vertical section thereof, and Fig. 3 a transverse section on the line so at in Fig. 1.

1 denotes a reservoir which may be of any ordinary or preferred form but is preferably made of generally cylindrical form and provided with a curved depression 2 in one side so as to adapt the reservoir to lie closely upon the finger or thumb of the user and make it compact and convenient in use. 3 denotes spring clamping arms whichare secured to the reservoir and are adapted to inclose the finger or thumb of the user. The top of the reservoir preferably inclines backward from the finger on which it is placed and is provided with a screw cap 4 having an opening 5 throughwhich a piece of absorbent material 6, as a sponge or wick is passed, a portion of the absorbent material projecting above the top of the screw cap and a portion extending down into the reservoir which is filled with water as at 7. The uses of this device will be apparent. It may be worn upon the back of the thumb or any finger of either hand depending of course upon the use for which it is intended and the convenience of the user, the clamp being simply passed over the finger or thumb to hold it in place. When used by a postal clerk in distributing letters it is placed upon the thumb of the left hand, the package of letters being held in the left hand and being distributed with the right hand. This leaves the sponge in the most convenient position possible to moisten the fingers of the operator,it being perfectly convenient when held in this position to moisten either finger of the left hand or the fingers and thumb of the right hand. When used by a bank teller in counting money it can ordinarily be used on the thumb of the left hand which will also be a convenient position in which to place it for moistening envelopes and for sticking stamps, it being understood of course however that the position in which it is placed is simply a matter of convenience to the user.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A finger moistener consisting of a cylindrical reservoir having a curved depression in one side to partially receive the finger or thumb of the user, spring clamping arms to inclose the finger or thumb of the user, and an inclined cap having a central opening to receive a piece of absorbent material.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON W. STEBBINS. Witnesses:

A. M. WOOSTER, PEARL REYNOLDS. 

